MLS in Portland in holding pattern

Timbers owner Merritt Paulson says bringing Major League
Soccer to the city is no sure thing

Saturday, July 26, 2008

JOHN NOLEN

The Oregonian Staff

Merritt Paulson has a favorite city in the race to land a
Major League Soccer franchise.

Understandably, it's Portland. After all, he's
owner and president of the Timbers, who play in the United
Soccer Leagues First Division.

Paulson would love to see Portland chosen for one of two new
MLS franchises that will be selected to begin play in 2011.

But he's a realist.

"As much as I think Portland is the best option,"
Paulson said, "and MLS knows that it is a great market,
it's not a foregone conclusion here." The reality,
he said, is there "really is going to be limited
expansion, and there are a lot of (cities)."

Paulson was referring to the official MLS announcement
Thursday, after a board of governors meeting in Toronto
before the league's All-Star game, that Portland is one
of eight cities in the United States and Canada in the
running for the two franchises that will be awarded for
2011.

The others are Atlanta, Las Vegas, Montreal, a second team
for New York, St. Louis, Ottawa and Vancouver, B.C.

The MLS has 14 teams, with Seattle becoming the 15th next
season and Philadelphia joining in 2010.

Paulson agreed with MLS commissioner Don Garber, who called
St. Louis a "strong candidate." There's a
focus to get another MLS team in the Midwest, Paulson said.
"So, if I'm an oddsmaker, I say St. Louis has a
pretty good shot for 2011."

The 35-year-old Timbers boss also said the fact that the MLS
All-Star game was held in Toronto creates "a lot of
excitement, a lot of buzz" about the possibility that
Canada could land a franchise.

"Certainly, there's the fan base there,"
Paulson said.

The MLS expansion announcement did not catch Paulson by
surprise.

"We've known this for quite some time," he said. "I've got a pretty regular dialogue with these (MLS) guys."...

MLS in Portland in holding pattern

Timbers owner Merritt Paulson says bringing Major League
Soccer to the city is no sure thing

Saturday, July 26, 2008

JOHN NOLEN

The Oregonian Staff

Merritt Paulson has a favorite city in the race to land a
Major League Soccer franchise.

Understandably, it's Portland. After all, he's
owner and president of the Timbers, who play in the United
Soccer Leagues First Division.

Paulson would love to see Portland chosen for one of two new
MLS franchises that will be selected to begin play in 2011.

But he's a realist.

"As much as I think Portland is the best option,"
Paulson said, "and MLS knows that it is a great market,
it's not a foregone conclusion here." The reality,
he said, is there "really is going to be limited
expansion, and there are a lot of (cities)."

Paulson was referring to the official MLS announcement
Thursday, after a board of governors meeting in Toronto
before the league's All-Star game, that Portland is one
of eight cities in the United States and Canada in the
running for the two franchises that will be awarded for
2011.

The others are Atlanta, Las Vegas, Montreal, a second team
for New York, St. Louis, Ottawa and Vancouver, B.C.

The MLS has 14 teams, with Seattle becoming the 15th next
season and Philadelphia joining in 2010.

Paulson agreed with MLS commissioner Don Garber, who called
St. Louis a "strong candidate." There's a
focus to get another MLS team in the Midwest, Paulson said.
"So, if I'm an oddsmaker, I say St. Louis has a
pretty good shot for 2011."

The 35-year-old Timbers boss also said the fact that the MLS
All-Star game was held in Toronto creates "a lot of
excitement, a lot of buzz" about the possibility that
Canada could land a franchise.

"Certainly, there's the fan base there,"
Paulson said.

The MLS expansion announcement did not catch Paulson by
surprise.

"We've known this for quite some time," he said. "I've got a pretty regular dialogue with these (MLS) guys."...